Author Topic: Coolant in oil  (Read 1324 times)

Offline Blankford

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Coolant in oil
« on: October 04, 2018, 12:14:39 PM »
Hello I'm new here. I have a 1974 c20 with a 350 and not sure if it's just head gasket problems or something worse. My coolant started finding its way into my oil, lots of it. The truck don't smoke at all, runs smooth still, and don't run hot. Anyone have this same issue and if so what was it?

Offline Rapid Roy

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Re: Coolant in oil
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2018, 01:34:32 PM »
Welcome. Sounds like head gasket to me.
1974 Cheyenne 10 LWB STOCK 350 W HEI /TH350/AC/4 BBL Quadrajet
Mopar by Birth
Chevy by Choice

Offline Blankford

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Re: Coolant in oil
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2018, 01:37:11 PM »
That's what I was thinking but didn't know if it could have been a cracked block.

Offline bd

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Re: Coolant in oil
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2018, 04:49:55 PM »
Welcome to the site from Central California.

Some possibilities (in approximate order) are: 1) intake manifold gasket(s), 2) head gasket(s), 3) cracked head(s), 4) cracked block, 5) head bolts, or 6) cracked intake manifold.  The thing to do is to remove all of the spark plugs, top off and then pressurize the cooling system for several minutes using a radiator pressure tester.  Next, have an assistant crank the engine a couple of complete revolutions while you watch for a cloud of coolant fog blowing out of a cylinder (don't stand in line with any spark plug holes).  This will tell you whether coolant is leaking into a cylinder and which one.  Otherwise, you may be able to narrow the source of the leak by careful observation after pressurizing the radiator.

Intake gaskets have a tendency to deteriorate at the four corners of the intake manifold adjacent to the cylinder head coolant ports.  Head gasket failures are more often a result of combustion gasses blowing past the fire ring into the cooling system, resulting in engine overheating and white exhaust smoke accompanied by a sweet exhaust odor.  Cracks are more difficult to predict and diagnose without engine teardown.  Rarely, head bolts will leak coolant past their threads into the rocker house - more often this is a result of improper engine assembly or very poor long-term engine maintenance.
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)